3 miles @ 6AM

4 miles @ 10AM

30 minute walk.

Thursday, 12/1... another month in the books already...  9 mile tryke ride today on the railtrail.    Temp was mid 40's with the sun out when I started, but by 4.25 miles, it was raining.    Being the quick thinker that I am, I figured I'd better turn back soon or get wet...   I had adjusted the mechanism that propels the tryke to make it easier to row yesterday and it worked, but the length the handlebars travel back and forth when I row increased.   That slowed me down a bit, but overall I like the change.   As it was, the rain stopped shortly and I didn't get too wet...

Chantilly... I'm pretty sure foam rolling or a tennis ball to massage your muscles are also forms of myofascial release.   It's easy to find hotspots with your fingers, press on a knotted muscle and it'll hurt.   Once you find one, press down and hold for 30 seconds or more 'til you feel the muscle break apart.    There's a lot of video on the internet that explains it better than I just did if you'd like to try.    Nice workout today...

Art... do you have gloves for temps in the 30's?    My hands are the toughest thing for me to keep warm when it's cold.

December?!? It's cold in northern MN!! overcast makes it more miserably dreary  No SUN in days!!

So got MRI on Wed, took almost 30 minutes of not moving, machine is loud but it was muffled with the headphones so I could listen to music while I took a nap. Next day, saw doc to discuss the problem.  The first thing she said was "I am amazed your knee has held up this long b/c it appears you HAD an ACL tear .......from long ago, I mean possibly YEARS ago." WHAT?!? Then, "with all your difficult uneven trail running, I'm amazed it kept you upright and running."  I know what ACL is/purpose/injury, etc. So (her) "the inflammation/pain (which I keep telling them it's not pain PAIN, just discomfort) radiates down the leg to your shin."  (me) No, I feel it radiate UP to the knee, from the lateral calf injury area, not SHIN area, of the tissues/muscles, not bone.  (she continues, not skipping a beat, while looking at her pager buzzing) "the scar tissue of the ACL and the healthier PCL are the only ones that's keeping your knee stable.  Additionally, the arthritis and bone spurs of the meniscus (had surgery in 95, and arthritis is a given) add to the inflammation/pain." (me, in my head) "I'm talking to myself. No one seems to be 'hearing' me."  Anyway, I asked all sorts of questions and finally 'options.'  (she, while she checks her pager buzzing again):  1) not do anything but R-I-C-E, try to run but it will probably become more aggravated/painful,  2) steroid injection in the knee to decrease inflammation & manage pain.  (me, in my head, I know decreasing inflammation helps the healing process but I hate any meds).  So running?  Possibly easy short distance running. (me:  seriously, 'short distances?!?')  Continue the injections when needed until it doesn't work anymore.  Preferably wear out the knee doing what I enjoy, running, if that's working w/ injections, until, 3) knee replacement surgery.   May or may not resume running again but can still stay active like easy cycling, swimming, walking, hiking ....... (me): yeah, yeah, I know.  Ok, I like the 'HIKING' and 'CYCLING' but not the 'EASY' part....  My own 4th option: second opinion.

So, she asked what I would like to do.  Ok, see PT again, try the dry-needling on the INJURY on my CALF AREA including myofascial release massages on back of knee and calf area, and anything else PT suggests till the end of the month.  Then in January, will consider steroid injection, see how it feels while I start to increase exercises with some jog/walk/jog.  In Feb, will see if I need another injection before I leave for AZ, will try run/walk/run when I'm back in AZ.

DH was not impressed w/ the diagnosis. (him) "How could you have RUN all those tough mountain trails, marathons, even a 50k, if you had a serious ACL tear?!?" He agreed w/ my second opinion preferably see someone else in CO or AZ. But he also wants me to consider that I can always CYCLE.  WHAT?!? Not what I want to hear .............I'm really depressed, sad and disappointed right now. This damn weather doesn't help. I'm still processing all this. PT appt on Tuesday.  I'm going on the bike trainer for awhile now. Sorry, I will respond to personals later.

Another 3 mile run this morning. Same weather conditions. Supposed to warm up a few degrees. Oh well, it's that time of the year.

Rich - Still a good ride despite the rain. Yes I use gloves. I must appear funny to people. Here's this guy running in shorts, long sleeve shirt wearing gloves. My hands get cold and my head also. I have a light beanie I take with in case I don't warm up enough or it's windy. It's usually the first mile or so before I warm up enough that I don't notice the cold so much.

Dan - Every little bit helps. I'll be doing more hikes now that the weather is better for them. Most everyone else don't mind going outside now. I remember family that had long driveways having to someone plow their driveway for them. What an adventure it was if they didn't get there on time.

AZ - I'd be depressed with your weather also. As for the MRI, nothing like hearing about something years after the fact. I agree with getting a  second opinion. It's bad enough when others don't really listen to us when we try to tell them something. And it's even worse when the doctor doesn't appear to be fully engaged in the conversation. There doesn't look like there is a good option either. Well 'good' that enables you to run like you want. Hoping for the best.

AZ- That is rough, but I agree with option #4, get a good second opinion.  You may have been able to run with an old tear because your surrounding muscles are in such good shape and very strong.  I expect PT to be helpful for you.  Hang in there.

Rich- I have a problem (I think) with very tight hip flexors & hamstrings, and generally weak core. I want to get a good evaluation and instruction on exercises/stretches.  Then I just have to do the work!

Art- I hear you on the cold hands and head.  I always wear gloves under 40 degrees, it takes me about 2 miles and then the blood starts circulating to the hands.

Mary Kay- You're in California?  You have certainly traveled since you retired!  Nice!

Saturday, 12/3... grabbed the walking sticks and headed out for a 5 miler on the railtrail this morning.    Temp was 36, with little wind.   Started out walking with short periods of running, but gradually turned it around so I was mostly running the last couple of miles.   I'm still favoring my heel a little, so today's goal was to give my running muscles a little attention, but still take it easy on my heel.    Not a bad workout...

Art... there's a lot of days in the Fall where I do exactly what you described, running shorts and gloves.    I had a guy tell me a while ago, "Every time I see you I say to myself, look at that damn fool!"   Meaning me wearing shorts and gloves...lol   Sticks and stones will break my bones, etc...lol   Lots of photos in New England Runner mag. show runners doing the same thing...

MK... hopefully Ray will see your post and look you up this weekend.   Good to see you post again and good luck running Ray down...

Dan... it took a while to sort through, but my sore hip and knee, plus the swelling in the back of my right heel was all caused by a tight hamstring.   I mistakenly thought I could fix the problem with stretches, but the real problem was leg muscles so knotted that stretching only offered temporary relief.   It'll be interesting what your PT finds when he/she looks at your hamstrings, good luck!

Sunday, 12/4... 32 degrees with a brrrrr...eeze today...lol   Took the tryke out for an 8 miler and early on met the old gent who walks his 2 dogs almost daily.   He asked how far the tryke traveled with each row and I didn't have the answer, but I do now.   The tryke's tire is 20 inches in diameter, rounded out it's circumference is 62.8 inches.   Meaning a complete cycle of rowing, pulling the handlebar towards me, then pushing it away, moves the tryke 62.8 inches.   There are 63,360 inches in a mile, divided by 62.8, means I push the handlebar forward and back 1,009 times per mile.   Today's ride was 8 miles, so I cycled through the rowing motion 8,071 times!   One final number, as of today, the tryke's got 585 miles on it, meaning I've cycled it through 590,265 times.   I didn't actually measure the tire, so this number isn't exact, but reasonably close.   You'd think I'd be sore...lol

Chantilly... I like how you take advantage of every opportunity to get your miles in.    You don't run every day, but when you do, you don't mess around.    You also had a short note at the end of last month where you said your friend had run a sub 4, but had never run an Ultra.   Then something about, "I think I can get in shape".   Care to elaborate?

Monday, 12/5... just over 4 inches of fresh snow fell over night that I cleaned off the driveway this morning, then headed for the railtrail for a 3 mile walk / jog.   It wasn't much, but different pushing through the snow...

Chantilly... the tryke's helped my arms, but my shoulders and back seem to be the biggest beneficiaries.    It's all good, I've never stayed with any upper body exercise 'til now, it's good to have something I enjoy.   When is the Ultra in San Diego?   12 hours!   Staying hydrated and fueled must take a lot of planning...